The book is physically a few pages shorter in the 2nd edition, but the font is smaller — there's more content in the 2nd edition, with the new case studies, updated data, and new discussions on A3, strategy deployment, and more Lean management topics. There is also a new foreword by Dr. John Toussaint, CEO of the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value.

He wrote, in part:

Whether it is the ThedaCare story … Seattle Children's … or Virginia Mason, the answer is in: Lean works. The question now for all of you is how are you going to do it? What is the leadership model required? … There will be many questions, and I believe starting with Mark Graban's updated book Lean Hospitals is a good first step. … This book lays out the nuts and bolts of the Lean methodology and describes the more difficult challenges, which have to do with managing change. … I wish I could have read this in 2004, as it might have prevented some of the mistakes we made in our Lean transformation journey.

Thanks to John and thanks also to the entire team at Productivity Press for their efforts and assistance in bringing this new edition to print.

As I've said before, I wouldn't expect those who already bought the 1st edition to go and buy this 2nd edition (save your book budget for my next book, Healthcare Kaizen perhaps? I'll be curious to hear your feedback on the 2nd edition. As always, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com, as that really helps with book sales.